Pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus.



J. JACQUES.

PNEUMATIC DESPATCH TUBE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.25,1909. RENEWED JULY 8.1915.

1,172,598. Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET lflfid 5i 7Z5 0 o J/ THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON, n. c

J. S. JACQUES. PNEUMATIC DESPATCH TUBE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPTJ25, 1909. RENE-WED JULY 8,1915- Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- THE COLUMBKA PLANDCIRAPH c0., WASHINGTON, n. C.

J. S. JACQUES. PNEUMATIC DESPATCH TUBE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED sEPT.z5. 1909. RENEWED JULY 8. ms.

Patented Feb. 22,19

3 $HEETS-SHEET 3- 49% w (MM THE COLUMEXA PLANQGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c.

JOHN S. JACQUES, OF KING-HAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

PNEUMATIC-DESPATCH-TUIBE APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

Application filed September 25, 1909, Serial No. 519,516. RenewedJuly 8, 1915. Serial No. 38,776.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN S. JACQUES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hingham, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic- Despatch-Tube Apparatus, (Case B,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in pneumatic despatch tube apparatus and the object is to provide a novel means of automatic electric control of the air current, whereby the carrier, in entering the trans mission tube, starts the air current creating means into operation, and in leaving the tube discontinues the operation of the current creating means.

In the attainment of this object, I have provided a single electric circuit connecting two terminals of one tube, a normally open switch in said circuit at one station, a normally closed switch at the second station in said circuit, an electro-magnet in said circuit at the first station and an armature operatively connected to the normally open switch and arranged to cooperate with said electro-magnet, whereby, when the normally open switch is closed, a circuit is completed to the electro-magnet, thereby energizing the same to attract the armature and thereby hold the normally open switch closed, and when the normally closed switch is opened the electro-magnet is deenergized and the normally closed switch is released and allowed to open. The air current creating means is suitably actuated by the making and breaking of the circuit so as to be in operation only during the passage of a carrier through one of the transmission tubes. Preferably the operation of the switches is automatically controlled by the passage of a carrier through the transmission tube.

The invention consists in the novel features of construction and in the combinationand arrangement of parts set forth in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing one of the transmission tubes connecting two terminals at two stations which will be referred to, as Station A and Station B, and showing also the air current creating'means and its connection with the terminal at station A. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing a second transmission tube connecting two other terminals located at station A and station B, respectively, and showing also the pipe connection which leads from the terminal at station Ato the air current creating means. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a part ofthe electric connections between the two stations. Fig. l is a diagram showing the remainder of the electrical connections between the two stations and the electric motor for driving the air pump. Fig. 5 is a detail elevation of-one of the terminals at station B. Fig. 6 is an elevation viewed from the right of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is adetail elevation of one of the terminals at station A. Fig. 8 is a plan section of a portion of one of the terminals at station A. Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the terminal shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a detail plan of one of the switches shown in Fig. 8, showing the rota: table drum of said switch in another position. Fig. 11 is a detail elevation of the second terminal at station B. Fig. 12 is an elevation viewed from the left of Fig. 11.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 1

In the drawings, referring to Figs. 1 and 2, 15 is a transmission tube connecting two terminals 16 and 17 located at two stations A and B, respectively, and 18 is a second transmission tube connecting two terminals 19 and 20 located at said stations, respectively. The terminal 16 is connected by piping 21 to the outlet of an air current creating deviee 22 which, preferably, consists of an air pump, and the terminal 19 is connected to the inlet of said air pump by piping 23. When the air pump 22 is driven in the proper direction by an electric motor 24, a current of air is created in the transmission tube 15 in the direction of the arrows 00 and at the same time an air current is created in the transmission tube 18 in the direction of the arrows y.

In order that the apparatus shall operate with the maximum of economy, it is de-- sirable thatthe air current creating means shall be in operation only during such time as a carrier is being transmitted through one of the transmission tubes. To that end,

I have provided certain novel electrical means for automatically controlling the operation of the air current creating means by the passage of the carriers through the transmission tubes,so that when a carrier i t F l enters one of the transmission tubes, the air current creating means is started into operation and when said carrier passes out wardly from said tube the operation of the air current creating means is discontinued.

1 will now proceed to describe the electrical devices by which this result is accomplished. Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, 25

is an electric switch located at station A and connected in an electric circuit 26 to a switch 27 located at station B, the switch 25 being normally open, and the switch 27 being normally closed. An electro-magnet 28 is connected in series with the circuit 26, so that when the switch is closed the circuit is completed and said electro-magnet is energized thereby, and when the normally closed is closed said electro-magnet is energized thereby and when the normally closed switch 31is opened said .electro-magnet becomes deenergized. The switches 29 and 31 and circuit are controlled by the passage of carriers through the transmission tube 18 in a manner which will be fully described hereinafter.

Referring now to Figs. 8 and 9, the switch 25 is preferably of the rotary type and comprises a drum 33 formed of insulating material having on its periphery a segmental contact plate 34 adapted to contact with two suitable brushes 35 and. 36 connected in the circuit 26. The drum 33 is secured to a rock-shaft 37 journaled in suitable bearings in the terminal 16 and having secured thereto an arm 38 located within said terminal and normally extending into the path of the carriers. The drum 33 and arm 38 are normally held in the position shown in Fig. 9 by any suitable means, such, for example, as a weight 39 secured. to an arm 40 fastened to the rock-shaft 37. Thus, it will be seen that the contact plate 34 of the switch 25 is normally out of contact with the brushes 35 and 36.

Referring now to Figs. 11 and 12, the

switch 27 of the terminal 17 is preferably of the rotary type and comprises a drum 41 formed of insulating material having on its periphery a segmental contact plate which is normally in contact with two suitable brushes 43 and 44 connected in the circuit 26. Thedrum 41 is secured to a rock-shaft 45 ournaled in suitable bearings on the terminal 17, and secured to this rock-shaft; is a cover 46 which normally closes a carrier outlet 47 of the terminal 17, said cover being normally heldin its closed position by any suitable means, such, for example, as a weight 48 secured thereto. The cover 46 is normally locked inthis closed position by av suitable latch 49 pivoted at 50 and having thereon a cam 51 which normally projects into the path of the carriers, so that a carrier, in passing outwardly through the out-: let 47, engages said camand moves the latch 49 out of engagement with the cover 46 against the tension of a spring In this way the cover 46 is released and allowed to be opened by the impact of the carrier strik-. ing the upperside thereof. After the car, rier has passed out, the weight 48 acts to return the cover 46 to its normal position.

Referring now to Fig. 1,the terminal 16 is provided with a carrier inlet 58, normally closed by a cover 54, which cover is moved. into its closed position by suitable means,. suchas a spring and locked in such position by means of a suitable latch 56. When the operator at station A opens the cover and inserts a. carrier in the terminal 16, said carrier falls and strikes the arm 38, thereby rocking the shaft 37 and actuating the switch 25 to close the circuit26, thereby energizing the electro-magnet 28.: The carrier, in moving the arm 38 down wardly, causes the arm/40 to be moved from the vertical position shown in Fig. v9 to a horizontal position, and the arm 40 is held in the latter position by an armature 57 formed on, or fast to, the arm 40, said ar- 7 mature being attracted and held by the electro-magnet 28 while said electro-magnet is energized. Thus it will be understood that when the carrier enters the transmission tube at the terminal 16 it actuates the switch 25 to close the circuit 26, and. when said carrier passes outwardly through the outlet 47 said carrier actuates the switch 27 to break. said circuit.

The terminal 17 is provided with a branch 58 having an outlet orifice 59 open" to the atmosphere at all times for the'escape of the r under pressure in the transmission tube 15 during the passage of a carrier therethrough, said branch, being preferably turned upwardly to prevent the air current. from blowing upon the counter at station B).

I will now proceed to describe the means by which the electric motor 24 whichldrives the pump 22 is started into operation when the carrieris introduced into the transmis. ion tube 1.5 and stopped when. a carrier passes out from said transmission tube. A switch 60 is located .at station A. Another. switch 61 is located atstation 13, these switches being connected in parallel with: suitable circuit wires 62 to the electricmotor 24. The switch 60, which is shown in detail in Fig. 10, is preferably ofthe rotary type and comprises a drum 63 formed of insulating material having secured to its periphery a contact plate 64 adapted to contact with three brushes 65, 66 and 67'. The brush'66 is connected to the circuit wiring 62 by a suitable resistance 68, and the brushes 65, 66 and 67 are so arranged that during the first part of the movement of the drum 63, the brushes 66 and 67 contact with the contact plate 64, thereby completing a circuit from a suitable source of current to the motor 24 and throwing the resistance 68 into circuit, continued movement of the drum resulting in the resistance being cut out of circuit, and the full current being delivered to the motor, by reason of thefact that the brush 66 passes out of contact with the contact plate 64 when the brush 65 passes into contact therewith, as clearly shown in Fig. 10.

The drum 63 is secured to therock-shaft 37 so as to be actuated thereby when a carrier strikes the arm 38, and it will be evident that during the passage of a carrier through the transmission tube 15 the electro-magnet 28 will act to hold the switch ($0 closed so as to continue the operation of the motor 24. When the carrier passes outwardly through the outlet 47, said carrier actuates the switch 27, as hereinafter described, to break the circuit 26, thereby causing the electro-magnet 28 to be deenergized, thus releasing the armature 57v and allowing the rock-shaft 37 to return to its normal position and consequently returning the switch 60 to its normal position, thus breaking the circuit 62, whereupon the motor 24 stops.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, the switch 29 is preferably of the rotary type and comprises a drum 69 formed of insulating material having secured to its periphery a segmental contact plate 70 adapted to contact with two suitable brushes 71 and 72 connected in the circuit 30. The drum 69 is secured to a rock-shaft 73 journaled in suitable bearings in the terminal 20, said rockshaft having secured thereto an arm 74 projecting into the path of carriers in said terminal, and being so arranged that when a carrier strikes the arm '74 the contact plate 70 is moved into contact with the brushes 71 and 72 and the circuit 30 is completed thereby.

Secured to the rock-shaft 73 is a lever 75 having thereon a weight 76 which acts to normally hold the drum 69 and arm 74 in the position shown in Fig. 5. Formed on, or secured to the lever 75, is an armature 77 which is adapted to be moved by said lever into contact with the core'of the electro-magnet 32 upon the completion of the circuit 30 by the switch 29.

The switch 31 is preferably of the rotary type and comprises a drum 78 formed of insulating material having securedto its periphery a segmental contact plate 79 which is normally in contact with 'two brushes 80 and 81 connected in the circuit 30. The drum 78 is secured to a rock-shaft 82 journaled in suitable bearings on the terminal 19, said rock shaft having also secured thereto a cover 83 which normally' closes a carrier-outlet 84. The cover 83 is moved into its closed position by any suitable means, such, for example, as'a weight 85 mounted thereon, and is locked in such position by'means of alatch 86 pivoted at 87. The latch 86 has formed thereon, or

secured thereto, a cam 88 which normally projects into the path of carriers in the terminal 19, so that acarrier, in passing outwardly through the outlet 84, strikes said cam and moves the latch 86 out of engagement with the cover 83 against the tension of a spring 89, thereby allowing said cover and operation with the switch 60 and therefore a detailed description ofthe same will be unnecessary, it being understood that saidswitch is operated to complete the motor circuit when a carrier is introduced into the terminal 20 and during the passage of said carrier through the transmission tube 18'said switch is held in its closed position 'by' means of the armature '77 cooperating with the electro-magnet 32. WVhen the carrier passes outwardly through the outlet 84, said carrier actuates the switch 31, as hereinbefore described, to break the circuit 30,

thereby denergizing the electro-magnet 32, thereby releasing the armature 77 and allowing the switch 60 to return to its normal position, thereby breaking the motor circuit, whereupon the motor 24 stops.

The general operation of the despatch tube apparatus hereinbefore described is as follows: The operator at station A introduces a carrier of well known construction into the terminal 16 and said carrier actuates the switch 60, as hereinbefore described, to start the air pump 22 into operation, thus creating an air current from the terminal 16 to the terminal 17 and outwardly through the orifice 59 to the atmosphere, said current forcing said carrier through the tube 15 to the terminal 17 and outwardly through its outlet 46, whereupon the carrier actuate's the switch 27 to break the motor circuit, thereby stopping the operation of the pump 22. The operator at station B, after making the change, introduces the carrier into the terminal and. said carrier actuates the switch 61, as hereinbefore described, to complete the motor circuit, thereby starting the air ing two stations and through which carriers are adapted to be transmitted, an air current creating device having an inlet con nected to one of said tubes and an. outlet connected to the other of saidtubes, a switch located adjacent to the outlet end of each of said tubes, a shaft rotatably mounted adjacent to the receiving end of each of said tubes, a pair of switches mounted on said shafts, one of said switches being connected in circuit with the switch at the outlet end of its respective tube, the other of .i said switches being connected in circuit with said air current creating, device, means on, said shafts adapted to :be actuated by the passage of carriersthrough said tubes to rotate said shafts and close the switches thereon,

and means on said shafts adapted to hold said last named switches in said closed con dition. while the electric circuits including the switches at opposite ends of said tubes respectively are energized.

2. A. pneumatic. despatch tube apparatus having, in combination, two tubes connectjmg two stations and through which (CELITIGIS are adapted to be transmitted, an air currenticreating device having an inlet connected to one of said tubes and an outlet: connected to the other of said tubes, aswitchl arranged at theoutletend of each of said tubes, ashaft rotatably mounted adjacent to the receiving end: of each of said tubes, a

pair :of normally open switches mounted on each of said. rotary shafts, one of said switchesbeing connected in circuit with the a switch at the outlet. end of its respective tube, the otherof said switches being connected in circuit withsaid air current creating device, means on said shafts adaptedto 1 be actuated by the passage of 0&1'11818 through said tubes to rotate said. shafts and close the switches mounted thereon, means on said shafts adapted to@ hold said-:last

named? switches in said closed condition while the electric circuits including 1 the switches at the oppositeends of saidtubes. are energized, and means adapted to returiu said switches to their normal posltions upon.

the deenergizing of said last named circuit. In; testimony whereof I have hereuntorset my hand in presenceof two subscribing wit-;

nesses.

JOHN S. JACQUES. l Vitnesses:

LOUIS A. Joiwns,

H. C. i-XULDn Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D G. 

